Upcoming J-Pop Releases – November 2013

The October line-up was a fairly strong one. Will November keep up the pace, or will artists hold off until we get closer to the holiday season? Actually, it looks like even though November lacks some of the marquee names like AKB48 and Arashi, the month boasts an even more impressive and diverse line-up than October, especially when it comes to acts with decades-long careers.

This list has selected single and album releases for the month, not all of them (i.e. releases from groups that I’m interested in tracking or at least recognize). My apologies if I missed a significant release – please mention the artist and title in a comment and I’ll update the list.

More complete listings are available on merchant websites (I use CD Japan’s list).

Holy mackerel, there were a lot of familiar names in this month! And isn’t November 27th crazy? They need to have the Music Station special just to fit everybody on!

Is it weird that I’m actually most looking forward to the Dream5 album because they have a live performance on one of the limited editions? I’ve never seen how the group performs live (their dances are very taxing), so that’s got my curiosity up.

And while I’m wondering how KAT-TUN will do with the recent turmoil in the group’s ranks, I’m probably totally weird in being most interested in the Funasshi single on November 27th, simply because the mascot did such a good job on the last TORE! episode I reviewed. Yup, I’m in a very odd mood going into November.

Anyway, just the acts releasing stuff this month would make for a very interesting Kouhaku – Momoiro Clover Z, Kyary Pamyu Pamyu, Kis-My-Ft2, Koda Kumi, THE ALFEE, LUNA SEA, Kimura Kaela, SKE48, Porno Graffitti, Matsutoya Yumi, Yamashita Tatsuro, Tohoshinki, GLAY, KOME KOME CLUB, Nogizaka46, Naoto Inti Raymi, GReeeeN, Perfume. All of those either have been on Kouhaku or seem like they ought to have been. And I didn’t even include all the Enka acts (CD Japan doesn’t list those as ‘J-Pop’).

17 Comments:

I think Kame has his solo single ( he did a duet with someone from his drama :D) on the same day as Jin’s album release. Fans use to joke over the fact that it would be fabulous to see them both on MS.

And feel the awkwardness.

Lots of Christmas songs, eh…I never liked these much :/// If not at all.

Snow Dome from Kisumai was meh, but Luv Sick awesome. I m surprised though we already got the PV Oo seeing how ” far” the release is…

Maybe because the concerts are not far too ?

Ooooh really about Dream5 ? I didn’t know about that! I m curious too…Did they ever get to perform on TV ?

On a completely different category as always, ABC-Z will have their new DVD single : Never my Love on november the 20th.

I have been very disappointed so far with Perfume T____T This song isn’t any better …

I really wonder how KAT-TUN will sell. As a huge fan for years, I was hit badly by the news even if I will keep on supporting the band + Koki separately….

Though that did explain why suddenly Juri stopped being in Another during all September for no reason at all….And Hagiya was always playing his character…. Wonder if Juri will be in next SC ://// Usually JE is really harsh with these sorts of things…It s forbidden for members to get in contact or meet with that person for a while, they shouldn’t mention him at all, and for example Shintaro had to lay down for a while …Of course, it was forbidden for him too to publicly meet or speak with his brother for a while. Shintaro had it hard at the time DX for many reasons…Anyway.

I wonder though if it’s going to be the same here :/// because Koki leaving seems to be much less taboo, his name too…as messy as the whole thing was and still is….Juri s message though was heartbreaking,until they took it off as much as KAT-TUN comments about the whole thing…But yeah, maybe Juri won’t suffer too much from this seeing how KAT-TUN could mention Koki recently, even if they couldn’t contact him…

But yeah, I wonder how they will sell…Some fans think it’s too early also for a new song.

Also putting them in competition against Tohonshiki, pretty sure the boys won’t get number 1

I just want them to sell a good number ….And not drop drastically.*finger crossed*

I didn’t see Kamenashi-kun’s release – is it under their names in the drama? Fans. . . joked about the awkwardness of seeing them both on Music Station? I didn’t think KAT-TUN fans needed any more awkwardness right now.

I’m with you on the Christmas songs – with the rare exception, they tend to be very generic.

“Luv Sick” gets the seal of approval, huh? I’m sure I’ve already heard it (as the theme song to something), but I should check it out to make sure.

I certainly haven’t seen Dream5 in any appearance – TV or otherwise. I’ve only seen them in PVs and the choreography video, so I’m really looking forward to that performance video on the album.

Added the A.B.C-Z single, but I really wish they’d just put the group on the regular singles chart – at least once, just to see what would happen.

Well, I’ve never liked Perfume (musically) so . . . yeah.

Oh dear – we do have to be concerned about the ramifications on Juri-kun. I mean, whatever happened with Koki-kun was his own thing, and a pain for fans, but the agency seems to take things like this out on siblings, too. It’s a bit worse even than the way you put it, because Juri-kun has been presented as riding on the coattails of his elder brother instead of developing a unique identity of his own. He always cited his brother as an admired senpai. So . . . well, I hope the agency isn’t too harsh, but I’m worried this will be even worse than the Shintaro situation. While KAT-TUN might be able to mention Koki-kun, it might be because they had a lot coming up (including this release) and needed to address the issue directly. A junior like Juri-kun is in a much more difficult position than the debuted group members.

I think the agency would reconsider the timing of the single release if they thought it would get the right public reaction. It’s possible that they believe any delay will just get the tabloid world excited.

The competition between them and Tohoshinki is a definite toss-up. Usually, KAT-TUN sells around 150k, which is right around what Tohoshinki does. Tohoshinki could probably beat KAT-TUN, but what if the Koki issue drives fans to buy the single to show they support the group? Taking the Ryutaro situation as an example, that was right when “OVER” was released, and that turned out to be a very successful single for HSJ. So, it could go either way between those two.

Of course, that doesn’t matter – Nogizaka46 is also releasing on November 27th, and that’s going to be the likely number one single by a mile.

Anything above 150k will be good for KAT-TUN, so that’s what I’m looking for.

Oh about Kame, fans of JE in general x) I didn’t precise, but it wasn’t just KAT-TUN fans were joking about it but it was few months ago, waaaaaay before Koki being fired made it to the news.

Here : Hottake Band, a special unit for Tokyo Bandwagon. The single will come out on November the 6th …The other singer and actor (I have yet to see Tokyo Bandwagon but I think he plays the role of his father) is someone Kame had liked for years , as he was the first CD he ever bought https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0x9Zuwla-aA&hd=1

I m really not sure how Sayonara Arigatou will sell…Few weeks ago, before Koki news it would have gone well, but right now almost everyone had forgotten about it until we got the short version ://// when it was a hot topic back in September.

I added “Sayonara Arigatou” for the Hottake Band. I can’t even begin to guess how it’ll do – it will probably depend more on the success of the drama than the Koki situation, since this is Kamenashi-kun and his personal fanbase rather than a KAT-TUN release.

Ah – I didn’t notice it was a mini-album. It’s the price of a single – pretty good deal. You’re right that Oricon will probably not list it on the single chart, but I’m not sure about the rules for mini-albums.

Well, if they really wanted to avoid KAT-TUN losing their streak, they could have cited the Koki situation as a reason to reschedule the release to a week with less competition. Then again, I’m not good at guessing what JE is thinking at the best of times.

I am also looking forward to the november releases! Especially the Dream5 Album ’cause I can’t wait to get my copies of the album. I am so happy that they finally released an Album.
Also this month is the major debut of Palet an idol band that I like quite a lot! Looking forward to that as well and I would LOVE to get myself the Porno Graffitti album.
Bisedes those so many other great releases. In times like this I wish I would be rich, so I could by every single release that I like! >0< (I would have an extra room just for my cds xD)

Yeah seem’s to me like this as well!!! It’s always though to choose which cds to get and sometimes there are even pre-orders for the next month that count as well ’cause they release limited editions and if you wait till the month they will be released you might not get the limited edition anymore. T-T Why oh why do I love so many bands and singer…. >-<

Yeah that’s so true!! I always hate those releases… why can’t they put everything in one version so you only have a regular and a limited version instead of so many different versions! >-< That really sucks at some point.

This is a VERY recent announcement (as of today in fact), but KinKi Kids will be releasing their new double album “L Album” on December 4th, so you can add that to the list. Secondly, the release for KAT-TUN’s Kamenashi (paired with actor Tamaki Koji) is under the name “Hottake BAND” and is titled “Sayonara Arigato”.

Now, other releases. Yuzu’s single release on November 13th, “Ame Nochi Hallelujah / Mamotte Agetai” is missing, and Daichi Miura’s new album “The Entertainer” is releasing on November 20th. KARA has also announced a new single and a best album to both be released on November 27th, titled “French Kiss” and “Best Girls” respectively. androp will also be releasing their new single “Missing” on the 27th.

I believe that those cover everything that I can think of that you’ve missed – expect my Report just a bit later tonight (which also includes the announcement of a very important release to me)!

Since this is also a fairly major (sales-wise) just announced release, I feel that it’s worth adding: Kanjani8 are going to be releasing their new single “Kokoro Sora Moyou” on December 4th, so I now think it’s fairly safe to call the #1s for that sales-week.